Washington Nationals: Midseason Check-Up

For the Washington Nationals, the 2011 has been a rousing success. The team came in to the season with four major goals: Get Stephen Strasburg healthy; guide Bryce Harper through the minors while allowing him to enjoy success; find out if Jim Riggleman is the right man for the managerial job; and get to .500.

On the Fourth of July, the Nationals promoted Harper to Double-A Harrisburg after tearing up the the Sally with a .318/.423/.554 slash line and 14 home runs. Riggleman showed that he was not the Nats' man when he quit on the team on the heels of winning 11 of 12. And after the aforementioned winning streak the Nationals have hovered around the .500 mark. By my count, the Nats are batting 1.000 in 2011.

But all has not been sunshine and rainbows. Jayson Werth continues to struggle. Same with Ryan Zimmerman and Ian Desmond. As a result the offense has failed to take advantage of a surprisingly good pitching staff.

If you are a glass half-full kind of person, you could say that the Nationals have managed to stay at .500 without the bats clicking, imagine what they'll do when the stars start playing like stars (attention: Ryan Zimmerman and Jayson Werth).

Before the season, the organization and fans alike knew this would be a transition year, and that has come to fruition. Sometime during the Nats' recent surge, the team transitioned from laughing stock to respectable. Along the way they managed to find a their catcher, closer, and second baseman for the future, as well as Strasburg's number two man in Jordan Zimmermann.

But they are still missing a couple key pieces that they'll need to find either in the farm system or in free agency. Let's look at the 25-man roster and decided their future, as well as possible replacements

Pitchers

1. Livan Hernandez

Livan's last season and half with the Nationals has defied convention and advance metrics. Pitchers with a mid-80s fastball are not supposed to be able to get major league hitters out, but somehow Livo does it.

Verdict: Keep Hernandez on for 2012 but move him down in the rotation and find a suitable replacement by the end of the season.

Greg Fiume/Getty Images

Replacement: Stephen Strasburg, DL

Even people who live under rocks know who the Nationals number-one starter of the future is.

2. Jordan Zimmermann

Z'mann has been fantastic coming of his first full season after Tommy John surgery. Now if only the Nationals can get him some run support.

Verdict: Keep him where he is for the next decade.

3. Jason Marquis

Marquis has rebounded a disastrous 2010 season with a return to form in 2011. His contract expires at the end of the season, so look for the Nationals to unload him for some prospects at the deadline.

Wilson has yet to sign a contract extension and will likely test the free-agent waters. After failing to land an ace in the off-season, Mike Rizzo has to get his hands maybe the best pitcher in the 2011 free agent class.

4. John Lannan

In 2010, Lannan was sent down to the minors. In 2011, he has become the pitcher the Nationals always hoped he would become: a reliable, middle-of-the-rotation guy.

Verdict: Keep him where he is.

5. Tom Gorzelanny

Gorzelanny has been decent when not injured, but he is not a part of the Nationals plans for the future.

Verdict: Keep him as a long-guy in the bull-pen.

Brad Peacock, Double-A Harrisburg

Peacock, 23, has been impressive in Harrisburg, posting a 2.13 ERA. He'll likely start next season in the minors but a mid-season call-up is not out of the question.

Set-Up Man: Tyler Clippard

The well-deserved All-Star selection speaks for itself.

Verdict: Keep Clippard and that change-up in Washington.

Closer: Drew Storen

Despite a couple hiccups here and there, the Stanford graduate has been very good in his go-around as the full-time closer.

Verdict: Keep him where he is.

Positional Players

C Wilson Ramos

Ramos is everything you want in a franchise catcher: He can call a game, handle a staff, and control the running game—not to mention, he's no slouch with the bat.

Verdict: Keep him behind the plate for the next decade.

1B Mike Morse

It's no coincidence that the Nationals took off when Morse did. His future is not at first base, but he has done a more than adequate job of replacing Adam LaRoche.

Verdict: Move Morse back to left and keep him in the line-up everyday.